LITTLE ROCK  Both Arkansas senators voted in favor of legislation to avoid the fiscal cliff of across-the-board tax increases and major spending cuts to the Pentagon and domestic agencies.

The Senate approved the legislation by an 89-8 vote early Tuesday. The measure now heads to the House.

Democratic Sen. Mark Pryor said he’s pleased Democrats and Republicans were able to reach a compromise. He said not everyone agrees with the details of the plan but that’s “the art of compromise and consensus building.”

Republican Sen. John Boozman said he’s proud lawmakers were able to reach an agreement “to prevent the largest tax hike in American history.” He hailed the bipartisan plan but said there was no reason lawmakers should wait until the last minute to deal with policy issues.

Displaying 1 - 10 of 11 total comments

Well, they did something right. Now, if they just fight to STOP the impending CHAINED CPI that has been mentioned to be attached to future Social Security! The low income seniors, or even mid-income seniors cannot afford this HUGE accounting trick aimed at robbing seniors of even more

Boozman is right that there is no reason to wait until the last minute to deal with these issues. But they did. More disturbing, they have, again, put off dealing with the debt ceiling for a couple of months. Little, to nothing done about reducing spending. Basically, what we have here is another $3+ Trillion increase in the National debt which will require another battle to increase the debt ceiling or go into default. We cannot continue down this path. We must get the profligate spending under control and government(s) start living within their means. We Americans and surely Arkansans pay enough in taxes. Governments at all levels must live within their budgets. Note to U.S.Senate: About time you submitted a budget AND live with it.

Boozeman only voted for this bill as the estate tax was waived for the wealthy. for those earning $5 million do not have to pay estate tax at death. He is a puppet for the wealthy.watch how he does not vote for what is good for Arkansans. Thank You Pryor, we can count on you!

To expand on why I think that it was a decent deal...The taxes went up moderately on those who could most afford it. Now we need to start cutting spending or reprioritize spending. I would like to make huge cuts to many federal agencies and see the federal government fund more education and construction. I don't think we need a bunch of pencil pushers in the Department of Education; I would prefer more funding for good programs on the ground which work.

Politicans need to abandon their addiction to baseline budgeting, producing trillion dollar deficits and debt, year after year and start working to lower spending. It has allowed the Democrats to produce No budget for the last 4 years and they have not even passed a budget Obama's proposed. . We are each year compounding the cost of operating the government. What the government says are spending cuts are really no more than reductions in the rate of increase.Maybe we need to have a modified type of zero-based budgeting.